The Petrified Forest (1936)

[kjrwe]

Who else is a fan of the 1930s gangster film The Petrified Forest?

The film spans a period of less than 24 hours, and during that time, a young wanderer makes the ultimate sacrifice for a woman he's just met and fallen for. A neat story, for sure!

Highly recommended.

[Spikeopath]

Who else is a fan of the 1930s gangster film The Petrified Forest?

The film spans a period of less than 24 hours, and during that time, a young wanderer makes the ultimate sacrifice for a woman he's just met and fallen for. A neat story, for sure!

Highly recommended.

A miserable little service station on the edge of nowhere...

The Petrified Forest is directed by Archie Mayo and adapted to screenplay by Charles Kenyon and Delmer Daves from the play of the same name written by Robert E. Sherwood. It stars Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Genevieve Tobin and Dick Foran. Music is by Bernhard Kaun and cinematography by Sol Polito.

Undeniably from the off you know this is adapted from a play, in fact such is the obviousness of the painted sets it's basically a play on film, but it matters not. For The Petrified Forest is an ode to language by way of vivid dialogue, a love of memorable characters, dealing out an unquenchable thirst for dreamers, loners and the regressed; and it unleashed a wonderfully primal Bogart on the masses.

You bet your last dollar that it's talky and claustrophobic, joyously so, characterisations are rich and there's intelligence of thought in the writing, this is not merely a bunch of stock characters holed up in a service station, held hostage by gangster Duke Mantee (Bogart) and his gunny cohorts, each person here represents a different strand of mankind and it's fascinating stuff. Especially the contrast between Bogart's scowly criminal and Howard's disillusioned intellectual, while two polar opposite black characters also make for a clinically interesting subtext. It all builds patiently towards a socko ending, no cheating to be found here.

Beautifully performed by the cast, a treat for the eyes and ears and to my mind it be required viewing for the classic film fan. 9/10

[XhcnoirX]

Who else is a fan of the 1930s gangster film The Petrified Forest?

I am, excellent movie. Spike said it all (and way better than I ever could). 9/10 for me as well.

[kjrwe]

I am, excellent movie. Spike said it all (and way better than I ever could). 9/10 for me as well.

I feel the same way. Spike's reviews are amazing - better written than certain "professional" reviews. I'm glad he's still posting his reviews, just like he did on IMDb.

I give this film a 10/10. But then, I give a lot of my faves a 10/10.

[Spikeopath]

I am, excellent movie. Spike said it all (and way better than I ever could). 9/10 for me as well.

 

[Spikeopath]

I feel the same way. Spike's reviews are amazing - better written than certain "professional" reviews. I'm glad he's still posting his reviews, just like he did on IMDb.

I give this film a 10/10. But then, I give a lot of my faves a 10/10.

 

[XhcnoirX]

 

[kjrwe]

Aww...come on, I was paying you a compliment!

[drinkanddestroy]

Who else is a fan of the 1930s gangster film The Petrified Forest?

The film spans a period of less than 24 hours, and during that time, a young wanderer makes the ultimate sacrifice for a woman he's just met and fallen for. A neat story, for sure!

Highly recommended.

The year is 1936. Please amend. Thanks  

[drinkanddestroy]

I like the first hour of the movie. The last 15 minutes are a letdown.

[kjrwe]

The year is 1936. Please amend. Thanks